It's A Big World Out There

By Rex Crawford and Kristin Crawford

From the deepest, darkest corners of existence, there have been enemies lurking. They have been patient and cunning. They are able to anticipate all strategies of attack with the most unexpected defensive maneuvers with ease. This enemy knows man better than men know themselves. Mankind is on the verge of coming face to face with this greatest of all threats that has existed throughout history. This enemy has been closing in on the human race for centuries. They are the Cacodemons.Off-world observers recognized the threat and devised a careful plan to help the people of Earth, so that they might be ready and have a fighting chance of defeating them. They are called Rapah, and they are strategically assigned to work with millions of key people on Earth, one-on-one. Their methods, though covert, are intended to give mankind the advantage that will be needed when the war begins in earnest. But time is running out, and the threat is ever-increasing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Flow Angel Media Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781960101051

Book preview

It’s A Big World

Out There

by Rex Crawford

Copyright © 2022 RexCrawford. All rights reserved.

Published by Flow Angel Media Publishing Group

ISBN 9781960101051

It’s A Big World Out There

First edition

Contributors: Author & Illustrator; Rex Crawford,

Cover design; Kristin Crawford

Some material in this novel are quotes taken from that of John Donne (1620), Leonardo Da Vinci and a poetry blog post from username ‘Milkman’ ref: www.originalpoetry.com/untitled-4_3 credit and recognition for these quotes remain for their original authors.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

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        Prologue……..………………………………….pg    4

Ch 1— A New Girl In Class………………………pg  6

Ch 2— A Walk In The Woods…………………pg  25

Ch 3— The Zoo…………………………………………….pg  43

Ch 4— The Museum………………………………….pg  59

Ch 5— The Mall……………………………………………pg  88

Ch 6— The Park………………………………………….pg  133

Ch 7— The Picnic……………………………………….pg 151

Ch 8— The Library………………………………..……pg 163

Ch 9— Baseball……………………………………………pg 180

Ch 10— The Mystery………………………………..….pg 223

Prologue

From the deepest, darkest corners of existence, there have been enemies lurking. They have been patient and cunning. They are able to anticipate all strategies of attack with the most unexpected defensive maneuvers with ease. This enemy knows man better than men know themselves. Mankind is on the verge of coming face to face with this greatest of all threats that has existed throughout history. This enemy has been closing in on the human race for centuries. They are the Cacodemons.

Off-world observers recognized the threat and devised a careful plan to help the people of Earth, so that they might be ready and have a fighting chance of defeating them. They are called Rapah, and they are strategically assigned to work with millions of key people on Earth, one-on-one. Their methods, though covert, are intended to give mankind the advantage that will be needed when the war begins in earnest. But time is running out, and the threat is ever-increasing.

It’s A Big World

Out There

by Rex Crawford

Chapter One:

The New Girl in Class

Our fear of death is like our fear that summer will be short, but when we have had our swing of pleasure, our fill of fruit, and our swelter of heat, we say we have had our day. - John Donne, 1620

The summer had been short; it was September already. School began at the end of August, and after only two weeks, the fear and burden of not doing well had consumed the students of Ware Junior/Senior High.

It was Friday, September 7. Cameron was ready for the week to be over, even though it was just the second week of school, and it was going to be a short week because of Labor Day. He had gotten all his homework done last night, and even though he knew it wasn’t done to perfection, he felt the relief of being able to turn something in. He didn’t spend too much time on it because he had just gotten a new video game for his sixteenth birthday, and he just had to reach a respectable level before attending to anything else. Even with his mother’s directive to get his room straightened up, along with cleaning the bathroom and taking out the trash, he felt that those chores could wait one more day. He did, however, get to his homework eventually, and that felt like quite an accomplishment for him on a Thursday night.

Cameron was tall for his age and well-proportioned despite being rather sedentary in his lifestyle. He had short, curly, dark brown hair that he hardly ever combed much since it always sat nicely up on top of his head. He lived in Ware, Massachusetts all his life and had friends that he would play video games with, but that was about the extent of his social life. The other kids at school would call them the cave dwellers because of their pale skin from being indoors much of the time.

He was a little early to school, so he took the long way through the multicolored hallways to the upper-class end of the school. He liked the journey through the earlier classes that he attended in his past. Not that it went back very far. He grew up in Ware and his past at Ware Junior/Senior High School was only the ninth and tenth grades. The halls were a dingy red for ninth, faded yellow for tenth, dark green for eleventh which was where he was, and bright blue for twelfth. When he reached his locker, there was no need to remember the combination since the handle was broken. He didn’t mind as there was never anything of value that he left in it. Of all the lockers on the wall where his was, he had the only one that

was broken.

When he arrived at home room that morning, his teacher, Mrs. Fletcher, introduced a new student––Sonja Olivetti. Cameron was instantly smitten. He had never felt this way before, and apparently, it showed. Bill and Kevin, his two closest friends, started laughing out loud as Cameron realized that his mouth and eyes were wide open, and he flushed red with embarrassment. She was tall and her shoulders served as cascades for her dark brown hair to flow over. She was also a bit more mature in places than most of the other girls in his class. Her family had just recently moved from Boston.

At lunch that day, Sonja was sitting at the last empty table. Bill and Kevin grabbed the last two seats at their table, forcing Cameron to have to sit across from Sonja.

Awkward, right? Cameron said to her as he sat down.

She looked at him and then at his lunch and then back at him.

So, do you play baseball? she said out of the blue.

Shocked that she would even speak to him, Cameron replied, I play the video game version, so I know how to play, I mean the rules and things, but no, I don’t play in real life.   

Real life, eh? What do you do in real life? she replied.

Well, I, you know, things, but I don’t play sports, he said.

What do you say we throw a ball around a little some time? she asked. You have to get up off your backside and get out there into the real world. The world is filled with questions that have to be answered.

I guess I could do that. Do you know where the ball field is? asked Cameron, before immediately adding, Memorial Field, it’s over by Family First Bank off South Street, but there’s a field here at the school too.

Yeah, it’s not far from where I live in the Maple Street Annex, but we don’t want to go there, Sonja replied.

Wow, that means that you take the bus to school. That’s a little too far to walk or bike, said Cameron.

Well, sometimes my old man will be giving me a ride, I’m sure; I don’t like the bus either. No, the field I’m talking about is not too far from where you live, Cam, said Sonja.

Wait, how do you know where I live? said Cameron, all frazzled.

You have your address on your lunch bag, ya nerd, Sonja pointed out. The field is just north of Eddy Street through a strip of woods. It’s an old field.

I remember playing catch with my dad there, but it wasn’t the dad I know now. Do you ever get those memories that just don’t make sense, like they might be from dreams or something? It’s strange, but I know he was my dad. Anyway, I’m sure that my first baseball glove was a gift from him. I couldn’t have been more than four or five, but there was something special about that time and that glove, playing catch with him. Cameron was suddenly startled and added, I don’t know why I’m telling you this; I don’t even know you.

When he went back to where Bill and Kevin were sitting, they wanted to know all about the conversation he had just had with Sonja. Cameron brushed them off and acted like they hadn’t asked anything and said, Have either of you ever played on the old ball field near my house?

Sure, when we were younger and Memorial Field was being used. We haven’t played ball for a long time, though, at least at a ball field, said Kevin, picking up the trash from his lunch.

Yah, why would we want to play with amateurs when we have all of baseball’s greatest players on the console? said Bill.

The difference is reality and getting some fresh air and exercise with real people, said Cameron rather judgmentally.

You’re one to talk, Cameron. You’re whiter than all of us put together. King of the Cave Dwellers, that’s you, joked Kevin.

Cameron would usually have joked back, but somehow, after his very first meeting with Sonja, he just didn’t have the frivolity that he used to have. He didn’t like this new seriousness that he saw in himself.

A random thought formed in Cameron’s mind. It had a completeness about it that was unusual for him. His thoughts were normally not like this. Sometimes change comes along and breaks you out of your comfort zone and regular routine. It forces you to look beyond yourself. Problems that you notice with this new view become personal and internalized. You could offer solutions, but would you? And why should you if you could?

On Wednesday the following week, as Cameron was helping his mother bring in the groceries and putting them away, his mom suddenly asked him:

I bumped into your home room teacher in the store and got talking with her. She tells me that you seem more distracted in class than usual lately. Does it have anything to do with the new student that just started?

Cameron flushed red. No, definitely not. It’s probably because baseball season is about to start up and I can’t wait to play. I’m thinking about trying out for the team this year, he said.

That’s a switch. You mean actually play outside on a baseball diamond instead of in front of your video screen?

asked his mom.

That’s not fair. I can play real baseball, Cameron defended himself.

I know that you can, but I’m just surprised that you would, said Mom.

Well, Mom, to be honest, I did meet the new student. Her name is Sonja, and I can’t believe it, but she loves baseball, confessed Cameron.

He was a little at a loss as to why he told her that and he was also a little giddy and lightheaded when he thought about Sonja. His confession to his mom made it hard for him to concentrate on his chores, and he didn’t quite get to everything he was supposed to do.

Later that evening when Cameron finally started playing video games, he opted for his favorite baseball game. He could play it alone or with his friends, Bill and Kevin. He had other friends online that he would team up with on occasion, but this time he just wanted to play alone.

As he journeyed into the night, he suddenly became aware of the late hour and thought about whether he had washed the dishes or not. He went to the kitchen to check, and, sure enough, they were done and put away. Then he wondered if he had done them or someone else. Surely, they would have given him grief if that had been the case.

He headed back to his room and realized that it was not straightened up, nor the bathroom either. Everyone had gone to bed, and he thought that if he tried to clean up this late, he would wake them, so he didn’t.

On his way back from the bathroom, he noticed a smell. Dog poop, unmistakable. As he passed the kitchen, he saw it by the back door.

Things were really getting out of hand. The dog had pooped on the floor below where the leash hung. Cameron thought how it must have been for the dog to agonize over needing to get out and finally relieving himself there at the door out of neglect. It made him feel really bad. So bad that he wanted to take Sandy out for a walk that very instant.

Cameron had been playing baseball on his video game console until the small hours of the morning––it was 3:30 a.m. now. 

Come on, Sandy, let’s go for a walk, Cameron called softly.

Sandy was tired but reluctantly got up to have his leash attached, and out the back door they went. They headed towards the baseball field.

Cameron was nervous about going to the old ball diamond to play catch with Sonja. The stands were dilapidated, the water fountain didn’t work because the local bullies would put sand in it all the time, and the fences were rusty and falling down. He gave Sandy a dog treat, but he only ate half of it and left the other half on the ground. Just before he took it from him, there was a flash of light, like lightning only without any thunder, and he couldn’t tell where it came from. It made the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck stand up.

Here he was, at four in the morning, with Sandy standing where the gate would have been before the fence fell away. Suddenly there appeared a ribbon of light like a seven-foot-tall zipper that opened from top to bottom. Before he realized that he was not holding the leash tightly, Sandy bolted through the opening and was gone. The light split further open, and he frantically called for Sandy to come back. It felt like hours passed, but it was only about ten minutes. The strip of light began to close up, and with just enough space left, Sandy jumped back through, and it closed up the rest of the way and was gone.

There’s a good dog. Are you okay, Sandy boy, huh, where’d you go boy, huh? he said as he rubbed his neck and hugged him. Cameron put his hands in his jacket because it was a bit chilly. The dog made a beeline for the biscuit that Cameron had given him before the light appeared. To his amazement the biscuit was whole. How could that be when he saw Sandy eat half of it? He distinctly remembered that the other half fell to the ground, and he had only brought one with him.

You must be hungry now. You didn’t much want it before … What am I saying? said Cameron.

As he stood there puzzling over it, the entire event became ridiculous in his mind. He felt like his whole life was so out of whack in the first place, which explained why he’d thought it was right to take Sandy for a walk at four in the morning. Had the whole incident been his imagination?

As he crouched down and continued to pet Sandy and rub his neck, he started talking to him.

How does it make sense to walk you at such an hour? I know that I’m just trying to catch up on my chores, but I should know that you have a routine for needing to be walked and going to the bathroom. You are a living being after all, Cameron reasoned.

So are you, Cameron, came a familiar voice from the woods.

He froze. He thought that it sounded like Sonja, but that couldn’t be. Why would she be way out here at this hour? But also, why was he here? Maybe his ears were playing tricks on him. After all, he had been rather preoccupied, thinking about Sonja and all the other things that seemed to be spiraling out of control in his life.

He decided to ignore it and take Sandy home. Just before he went to bed, he sent a text to the guys, asking to meet in the morning. He would only get a couple hours of sleep before he had to get up for school.

Cameron got up early before anyone else in the house and took his bike to meet the guys. Whenever there was something important to discuss, they would all meet in the parking lot of George’s Astronaut Pizza House before school.

I’m telling you it was like a seven-foot-tall zipper of light that opened up from the top down to the ground and Sandy jumped through it and was gone for about ten minutes, said Cameron.

I’ve read about this kind of thing, said Bill.

You mean in comic books, right? said Kevin.

No, for real.

Well, when Sandy came back through, he went right for the biscuit that I had given him, and it was whole again, not just the half from him eating part of it, explained Cameron. That means there is some kind of a time change thing going on. I’m hoping that it is all just my imagination, but … I also thought that I heard Sonja’s voice from the woods.

Wait, I’ve seen that on Supernatural. The gateway to the alternate earth where everything is charred and burnt and demons are fighting a war with humans, said Bill.

You know, that’s not really helpful. You need to stop doing that, said Kevin. Apparently something really did happen, and Cameron is pretty shaken up over it.

Well, what are we going to do about it? asked Bill.

Well, tomorrow night I’m supposed to meet Sonja at the old field to throw the ball around. I’ll go and do that, and then I’ll go from there. I am not expecting anything to happen, but if it does, I’ll let you know, said Cameron.

The next day there was not much interaction with Sonja, and it was a good thing since Cameron had to work on homework that he didn’t get finished the night before. At lunch, however, she did remind him to meet at seven and added that he didn’t have to bring his ball and glove.

"So, we’re going to play catch and she’s bringing the